We’ve heard the warnings and we know the dangers. Smoking most definitely kills.
But does that really apply to those of us who enjoy the odd sneaky cigarette on a fun-filled night out? Surely the stress-reducing smoke we occasionally allow ourselves at the end of a long hard week at work doesn’t have the same impact on our lungs as the non-stop cigarettes consumed by more committed smokers? More of us appear to be convincing ourselves that this is the case.
The National Tobacco Control Office run by the HSE monitors the reported number of cigarettes smoked in Ireland on a daily basis.
In December 2013, it found that the overall prevalence of smoking in the country was 21.5%. This means that more than one in five adults is a smoker, a number that has been in steady decline since we introduced the smoking ban in public places in March 2004.
What is more interesting in the latest report to be published by the National Tobacco Control Office is the frequency of smoking —57.49% of all smokers describe themselves as occasional or light smokers. This means they smoke between one and five cigarettes a day (for occasional smokers) and between six and ten a day (for light smokers).
This is all part of a gradual shift towards lower consumption levels among smokers. It’s a trend we are seeing among celebrities too. The likes of Kate Moss, Lily Allen and Colin Farrell are often seen puffing on a cigarette. Lana Del Ray, who performed in the Marquee in Cork recently, dragged on a cigarette while she was on stage at Glastonbury. These unashamed smokers have now been joined by the queen of clean living Gwyneth Paltrow. Last year, she confessed to enjoying the occasional cigarette. Here in Ireland, the fresh-faced Glenda Gilson has been spotted indulging her nicotine habit from time to time too.
Source:Irish Examiner, 17/08/14
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
